President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's assessment regarding young people making marriage decisions at later ages once again highlighted the radical transformation experienced in the institution of marriage in Turkey and globally. Sociologist Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı, evaluating this change within a sociological framework, said, “Young people preferring marriage at later ages indicates not only individual choices but also a radical social transformation experienced in the institution of marriage in Turkey and globally.”
Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı, stating that solo living has often become a new lifestyle imposed by modern life rather than a conscious choice, said, “Today, approximately one out of every three marriages ends in divorce. This data shows that marriages are numerically declining, while individual living has now become a social reality.”
Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı, a faculty member at the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Üsküdar University, evaluated the institution of marriage.
A radical social transformation in the institution of marriage in Turkey and globally
“President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s recent assessment that young people prefer marriage at later ages indicates not only individual choices but also a radical social transformation experienced in the institution of marriage in Turkey and globally,” said Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı, pointing out that today, marriage has become an institution established later, approached more selectively, and with a growing psychological dimension.
‘The rise of singleness is reshaping the world’
Noting that this transformation is shaped not only by economic reasons but also by individualization, increased expectations, and changes in the perception of relationships, Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı continued as follows:
“The global reflections of this transformation are also noteworthy. The Economist describes the process with the phrase ‘the rise of singleness is reshaping the world.’ In the US, half of men aged 25–34 and approximately 41% of women live alone today. Since 2010, the proportion of single-person households has continued to increase in 26 of 30 developed countries. If the marriage rates of 2017 could have been maintained, there would be approximately 100 million fewer single people in the world today. The fact that 60–70% of those living alone actually desire a relationship but cannot form a suitable partnership indicates that solo living has often become a new lifestyle imposed by modern life, rather than a conscious choice.”
One out of every three marriages ends in divorce
Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı stated that data from the Turkish Statistical Institute reveals a significant transformation in family structure in Turkey in recent years, saying, “While the average household size was 4 people in 2008–2009, this number has decreased to 3.11 in 2024. The proportion of single-person households, representing individual living, has reached 20% today, up from 13.9% in 2014. This picture shows that the 'solo living' model, common in Western societies for many years, is becoming increasingly visible in Turkey as well. During the same period, the rate of classical nuclear family structure decreased from 45.7% to 38.6%, while the rate of single-parent families increased from 7.6% to 10.9%. The marriage rate has dropped from 8.35 per thousand to 6.65 per thousand, while the divorce rate has risen from 1.41 per thousand to 2.19 per thousand. Today, approximately one out of every three marriages ends in divorce. This data shows that marriages are numerically declining, while individual living has now become a social reality.”
Women's education has made marriage cease to be a necessity
Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı explained that while economic reasons first come to mind when looking at this picture, both global research and Turkey's data reveal that this transformation is shaped not only by economic factors but also within the framework of sociological and psychological dynamics. He noted:
“The increase in women’s education level stands out as one of the most decisive factors in this process. While the proportion of women pursuing higher education in Turkey was only 9.7% in 1997, this rate has reached 49% today. The strengthening of women's economic and social independence transforms marriage from a necessity into more of a personal choice. The increase in individualization, rising life expectations, and extended human lifespan also fundamentally alter the meaning attributed to marriage.”
Youth are not moving away from family, but seeking quality connections
Prof. Dr. Süleymanlı also stated that extensive sample research conducted by Üsküdar University on university youth clearly shows how this transformation resonates in the youth’s world of values, saying, “According to research, a large portion of young people still associate family with ‘love,’ ‘happiness,’ and ‘the meaning of life.’ It is also noteworthy that trust, respect, loyalty, common understanding, and spiritual values stand out among the characteristics young people look for in a spouse. This picture indicates that young people approach marriage with a more cautious, conscious, and quality-oriented search for a bond.”
A quest for long-term compatibility in spouse selection
Prof. Dr. Süleymanlı noted that the factors considered in spouse selection also support this approach, stating, “In studies conducted, young people giving an average of 3.43 for being of the same religion, 2.85 for similar socioeconomic status, and 2.67 for the same political views reveals that the search for a harmonious balance, rather than absolute similarity, comes to the forefront. The perception of the 'right person' is now established not solely through emotional attraction, but through long-term compatibility and relational stability.”
How young people approach relationships
Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı also said that the "Youth, Digitalization, and Loneliness" research conducted in cooperation with Üsküdar University and Method Research Company more clearly reveals how young people approach relationships, stating, “According to the research, young people attach the most importance to trust, respect, loyalty, compatibility, and spiritual values in spouse selection. This data shows that while digitalization accelerates relationships, it also makes them more fragile, and in response, young people are seeking more secure and sustainable bonds.”
President Erdoğan's emphasis and the search for a strong family amidst changing conditions
Prof. Dr. Süleymanlı also stated that President Erdoğan's bringing the issue to the agenda indicates an important social sensitivity regarding the future of the family institution, saying, “Today, while the marriage age is increasing in both Turkey and the world, marriage numbers are decreasing, divorces are increasing, and solo living is becoming more visible. This picture shows that young people evaluate their marriage decisions more carefully, not solely based on individual preferences, but within the framework of living conditions, future expectations, and relationship compatibility. The President's assessment once again highlights the importance of addressing the issue together with its economic, social, and cultural dimensions.” He concluded his remarks.